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Need simple instructions on how to build a toy box? Well, we have it all here. Toys are one of the most wonderful things that kids can experience. It allows them to explore the world with an eye for endless possibilities and also opens up their mind for exploring their own talent and imagination. So with these reasons, it is very important that as parents and adults you help your kids take care of their toys by building them a toy box. Plus it also creates a safer environment for everybody else in the house when the toys are kept right where they should be.

First Things First on How to Create a Toy Box

Well, you can’t just go right down to business and hammer away. The first thing you need to know on how to build a toy box is to identify the kind of toys that the kids have. You need to separate them accordingly because some toys tend to be more sensitive than the others. Some are smaller while some may take up too much space. Putting a category on the toys beforehand also allows you to make a simple inventory of the toys the kids already have.

Soon as you have your mini inventory in place, this is where the design process comes in. If you really want to build your toy box from scratch then it would help to have a design plan that you can sketch up to serve as your guide. This would also give you an idea of the materials that you will need to make building possible. You can also have someone who’s more adept at building stuff look over your sketch so they can give you useful inputs on how to build a toy box.

Choosing Your Materials Wisely

Keep in mind that as much as you want the kids toy box to be creative and sturdy, you should also remember that most of the time the kids themselves would be the ones to handle it. Safety precautions should be among the top of your priorities when building one. Make sure that if you decide to use wood, the materials is properly smoothed out to avoid stubs that can injure the kids hands and fingers. If you will use metal, it would be best to use those that are a bit on the thin side so kids can easily carry them around.

Make sure that you also create safe joints for the box lids and sides. You can actually use ropes instead of nails. But should you use bolts and screws and other steel joints, just make sure you choose the ones that are guaranteed to be stainless. At least even if times wears out these materials they would not rust and cause a hazardous toy box for the kids to use.

How many lives could be saved if we all took Fire Safety in the Home more seriously?

The true answer to this question may never be known, though with just a little bit of planning, a small amount of money and a little time and effort from ourselves, we can make our homes more fire safe for our families.

In this article we are going to cover a few areas which can be looked at, outside and inside your home, to improve the fire safety of your home, for little or no cost to yourself.

We are going to break down your home into four areas of concern, so we can cover as much as possible in each area. These being:

1. The property itself. This includes the whole property from the front gate to the house itself, or flat or apartment.

2. The Adults who live in the property, their actions and input to the whole scheme.

3. The children of the property. This includes everyone from new born upto about 18 year of age.

4. Visitors and pets of the property.

THE PROPERTY ITSELF – OUTSIDE AND OUTBUILDINGS

We will start at the front gate of the property and work our way up to the house itself. For those of you who live in flats or apartments, read carefully and take out of this what you think is most important to your property.

To start with make sure the house number is visible to the emergency services. Use large numbers and paint them white if on a dark background. You know where your house is, but others may not.

Maintain the gates and entrances to the property so as they are easily opened for entry by the emergency service. Cut back any over hang from trees or shrubs, and keep the area clear of rubbish, obstacles and potholes.

If you have a gas connection or gas cylinders on the property. Have a sign indicating there position near the entrance and the emergency cut off valve. Also show what gas they contain, such as LPG, Natural gas, Oxygen or Acetylene. Any form of compressed gas can be a major hazard in fire conditions.

Keep trees and shrubs, around the house proper, trimmed and tidy around the windows and doors being used for egress. Once again, make sure nothing is left laying around that could injure anyone on their way to the Assembly Point.

Have a garden hose, long enough to reach around the house, or one either side of the house if you have more than one outside tap. Maintain the hose in good repair and have an adjustable nozzle connection on the end.

The outbuildings are just as important as the house itself. Garages, sheds, lean-to’s etc.

Keep all dangerous goods, such as paint, thinners, break fluids, white spirits etc in a locked and marked metal cabinet. Keep poisons, such as vermin bait, garden chemicals etc, in a locked cupboard away from inquisitive hands. Gas cylinders of any kind, such as oxy/acetylene, LPG or spray paint cans should be stored safely and signs placed on the outside of the buildings indicating the presence of the hazardous goods within the building. These buildings should be kept as tidy as possible and a clear route of egress should be available when working inside. Have the appropriate fire extinguishers in place by the exit door and know in advance how to us them.

THE PROPERTY ITSELF – INSIDE THE HOUSE

Inside your house you will need a number of specific items. Most importantly Smoke Alarms. These will need to be fitted throughout the building at the prescribed positions, and maintained in good working order. Batteries will need to be changed once a year at a specific time, not just when they run out.

In the kitchen you will need an all purpose fire extinguisher and a fire blanket. You will need to know how and when to use them both. How to check them for the contents level and damage. Every adult in the house will need to have this information. You can contact the extinguisher supplier for further information.

You will also need a fire evacuation plan for the whole house and family. This can be drawn up with the assistance of everyone in the house and practiced regularly. The main features of the Home Fire Plan will be, two means of egress from as many rooms as possible in the house, an assembly point well away from the house itself, usually somewhere near the letter box. A designated person to call the emergency service required with the right information that will be relevant. Street address, type of incident, number of occupants etc. Once outside of the house, DO NOT go back inside. Do a head count and make sure everyone is safely accounted for.

Other safety checks than can be done in the house are:

- No smoking in bed!
- Metal or glass ashtrays for the smokers, if smoking allowed.
- The position of portable heaters – not to close to furniture or anything easily ignited.
- Fire guards around all fires for protection of the children.
- No logs left to dry upon the log fire or near open fires.
- No overloading of electrical sockets or multi boxes.
- Do not run extension cords under carpets or rugs.
- Do not drink and fry.
- Keep matches and lighter away from the children.

This list is not a complete list as each property will have it’s own little areas of concern over and above this list.

THE CHILDREN OF THE PROPERTY

The children of the family should work closely with the adults on learning the Home Fire Plan, and their parts in it. Most important points being… once outside stay out and the position of the assembly point.

The children can also be taught to make an emergency telephone call, this can be taught for as many reasons as possible as each call is very similar. If the children are of an age where you would be happy with them attempting the extinguishment of a small fire then teach them to use the extinguishers and the fire blanket.

Teach smaller children the benefits of staying away from open fires and electric bar heaters to avoid clothing fires. Also teach them how to stop, drop and roll if their cloths ever do catch fire.

Teach them to never play with matches or lighters. Explain to them the hazards they face when doing so. Teach them how to get down, get low and get out if ever they are in a smoke filled room. Teach them to be fire wise.

VISITORS AND PETS

When you have visitors to the house for any prolonged period, such as sleepovers, holiday stays etc. Explain to them the house fire safety rules and the Home Fire Plan. Add them to the head count list. Ask them not to smoke in bed and supply a safe container outside for cigarette butts and matches if you allow smoking. Bring to their attention any other item you think maybe of importance.

You must also consider your pets in any fire safety aspect of your life, though never put them above your own safety or those of your children. I know this is a hard one, but remember if you are out of the building, never go back in for a pet.

Do not build your dog run any closer than 10 metres, (30feet) from a building. You are only putting them at risk if it should ever catch alight.

Keep pets inside when ever there are fireworks being used. Once they are inside do not leave any candles or open flames around which could be knocked over by them.

Always remember to be fire wise and for anything which you are not clear of or happy with, contact your local Fire Brigade as they are the experts and are only to willing to assist you in any endeavor.

Everyone knows that at a garage sale, unlike a retail store, the marked price is just the starting price. Some shoppers won’t haggle because they either don’t like haggling or they may find your garage sale prices reasonable and fair and are happy to pay your asking price.

But whether you like it or not, most shoppers are there for a bargain and will want to haggle, no matter what the starting price. Even if the starting price is 50c!

If you don’t know how to haggle like the experts then you’ll more than likely end up giving your merchandise away at a fraction of what you could have gotten for it. A dollar too much off here and a couple of dollars too much off there soon add up to hundreds of dollars you miss out on.

Basic haggling isn’t hard and you do it everyday. Basic haggling often is just a case of “split the difference”. You want $10 for that mirror, the shopper is offering $5 and you both know you are going to end up in the middle somewhere between $7 and $8. It isn’t rocket science or difficult.

The secret to making as much money as you can at your garage sale is to be able to haggle like the experts so the final price ends up closer to what you want rather than what the shopper wants.

If you aren’t confident at haggling, get someone else to do it for you. Invite a friend or relative who is good at haggling to come to your garage sale. Even if it’s just for the first hour or two when the second-hand dealers, professional garage sale shoppers and collectors arrive (usually also an hour before your advertised start time!). This is when the serious haggling happens.

If you want to become good at haggling yourself though will take practice. Go to other garage sales and flea markets and practice haggling over items. While you browse, listen in and take note of how other people haggle.

The shopper will try to intimidate you to get you thinking that your asking price is unreasonable. They will say that “It’s way over-priced”, “It’s scratched, dented or chipped”, “No-one is going to buy it at that price and I’m not coming back later”, “I can buy this at half the price”, “You’ve got no idea how to run a garage sale”. Don’t take it personally. It’s just a tactic in the game.

To sound like an expert haggler always talk with a strong, confident voice. Reply with, “You could come back about half an hour before closing and if it’s still available I might be prepared to go that low.”

If it’s early in the morning, you could say, “It’s still early so I think I’ll try to sell it at my price. I might lower the price later in the day” or (with a smile), “I’m sorry but I really need to get $20 for that vase.”

Always know what your bottom price is. If an item is likely to be resold on eBay or another online auction site, check what similar items are being sold for and set your bottom price at 50% – 75% of that price.

Haggling isn’t an argument. Keep a smile on your face and remember that the stakes aren’t high.